Delights Natural Adult Small Breed Wet Dog Food, Variety Pack, Prime Rib, NY Strip, & Filet Mignon Cuts in Gravy 3.5-oz cups, case of 24
Graded by The Sniff System
Blue Buffalo Delights Natural Adult Small Breed Wet Dog Food is a wet food featuring beef, specifically filet mignon, in gravy, designed for small adult dogs.
This wet food features beef, specifically filet mignon, as the primary ingredient, which offers a strong protein profile with high biological value. It also includes chicken liver and dried egg product, adding diverse, highly bioavailable protein sources.
There's no declared omega-3 source, so it might be missing out on some beneficial fatty acids. It also contains guar gum, an emulsifier, and added sugar, which isn't nutritionally necessary for dogs.
Good fit for small adult dogs who enjoy a beef-rich wet food. Less ideal if you prefer foods without added sugar or a clear omega-3 source.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Strong fit for adult Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and similar moderately active toy breeds navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Working in its favor: explicitly formulated for small-breed dogs. Filet mignon: beef anchors position 1, with 2 pulse-family ingredients in the top 15 (peas at position 9, pea flour at position 10), plus chicken liver at position 4 (a natural taurine precursor). The FDA's 2019 investigation update on diet-associated DCM included 13 reported cases in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, making them one of the top 15 most frequently reported breeds at that time (FDA, 2019) .
Looking at this for adult Cavalier King Charles Spaniels or Cavalier King Charles Spaniels with diet-associated DCM concerns ? We are building dedicated pages for these combinations.
Auto-matched from this product's measurements (ingredients, life stage, calorie density) to a breed archetype. Not a substitute for vet input on your specific dog.
Research informing this analysis
MethodologyThe Sniff System grades this product against 3 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.
- FDA, 2022epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 4 claims
- FDA, 2019cardiac · diet composition· cited in 3 claims
- NRC, 2006nutrient bioavailability
Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
Middle-of-pack grade. 49/100 (C) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. Protein quality did the heavy lifting (+20 points): Strong protein profile with filet mignon: beef as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value. What we'd flag for vet discussion: fat quality (-8 points). No declared omega-3 source. Fish oil, salmon oil, and algae oil all absent. B-tier is 11 points up. Fat quality is where to find them.
Strong protein profile with filet mignon: beef as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.
Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.
AAFCO formulation inferred from declared adult maintenance. Verbatim statement not published by retailer.
No declared omega-3 source. Fish oil, salmon oil, and algae oil all absent.
Contains guar gum. Emerging microbiome data on emulsifiers; no canine clinical evidence. Minor penalty in canned food..
Contains added sugar. Nutritionally unjustifiable in any complete dog diet..
- Lowest fat quality in Blue Buffalo's lineup (4/16)
- Top quartile for DMB protein in Blue Buffalo's lineup (44.4%)
- Bottom 1% for carb quality in Blue Buffalo's lineup (8/16)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
Similar dog foods worth considering
Three lenses on products with formulation profiles similar to this one.
Cesar Filets in Gravy Beef Flavors Variety Pack Small Breed Adult Wet Dog Food, 3.5-oz tray, case of 24
Scores 9 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Blue Buffalo's Stew Chicken & Beef Variety Pack Wet Dog Food,12.5-oz can, case of 6
$3.75/lb vs your seed's $7.01/lb (46% less) at a comparable score.
Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.
Wet and fresh foods contain more water than kibble (typically 65-78%). On a dry-matter basis, this food's protein content is roughly 44%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1filet mignon: beef
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2beef broth
Real broth. Adds flavor and moisture, signals the recipe leans on real meat.
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3water
Just water. Counted on the label of any wet or fresh food. The number tells you the moisture content.
- 4protein animalchicken liver
Organ meat. Dense in protein, iron, vitamin A, and the B vitamins. Among the most nutrient-rich ingredients a dog can eat.
Position 4. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.
- 5vegetablecarrots
Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.
Position 5: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 6protein animalchicken
Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.
Position 6: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 7vegetablepotato
Standard white potato. Steady carb source, common starch in grain-free recipes.
Position 7: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 8dried egg product
Whole eggs with the water removed. Same nutritional value as fresh eggs, just shelf-stable.
Position 8: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 9legumepeas
Cheap protein bulk. Fine in small amounts, but when peas stack with lentils and chickpeas in the top ingredients, it's the pattern the FDA flagged in its heart-disease investigation. See why →
Position 9. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
- 10legumepea flour
Powdered peas, usually used as a binder or filler. Counts toward the legume stack the FDA flagged.
Position 10. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
- 11potato starch
Refined potato. Pure carb energy, low on other nutrition. Often used as a binder in grain-free recipes.
- 12fiberguar gum
Thickener common in wet food. Emerging research on emulsifiers and the gut microbiome, but no smoking gun in dogs yet. See why →
Position 12: trace fiber inclusion.
- 13natural filet mignon flavor
- 14mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 15sodium phosphate
Mineral source and preservative. Standard inclusion at small doses.
- 16cane molasses
Added sugar from sugar cane. Used for palatability or texture. Dogs don't need added sugar.
- 17mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 18mineralcalcium carbonate
Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.
- 19supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 20zinc amino acid chelate
Zinc bound to amino acids for better absorption. Same idea as zinc proteinate, the premium form of the mineral.
- 21iron amino acid chelate
Iron bound to amino acids for better absorption. Premium form versus inorganic iron sulfate.
- 22fiberxanthan gum
Thickener common in wet food and gravies. Same emulsifier-microbiome conversation as guar gum, not a clear flag. See why →
- 23vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 24copper amino acid chelate
Copper bound to amino acids for better absorption. Premium form versus copper sulfate.
- 25manganese amino acid chelate
Manganese bound to amino acids for better absorption. The chelated form most premium brands use.
Showing first 25 of 112. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
23 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.